DIY spray foam kits for metal shop?

[ksimolo]

Originally Posted by jdmar

A slight change to topic here... This is why the barn I am building is being done with traditional framing. I can insulated the cavities with 6" of fiberglass after caulking/Great Stuffing all air gaps. Then I am overlying continuous sheets of reflective foam then OSB on the inside. This foam will help stop the thermal bridging of the studs. It will actually work better than foam at a reduced cost. But it is lot more effort on my part.

Peter

Hi Peter,

That is how i redid the old part of my house when we gutted it. I did foil tape the seams. I also added purlins to the inside of the foam. A gap in front of the foil increases the R-value (reflectivity, etc.). My computer more than heats my office (very small office - 7 x 9?).

Ken

[jdmar]

Your beyond 100% correct about air space in front of the foil. If I recall, an relatively sealed airspace in front of the foil (even small) both significantly increases the radiant reflectivity of the foil and adds about an R-3 to the job just with that small sealed air gap.
Just to give you an idea of what serious insulation planning can do. I heat an area of slightly over 7700 square feet with 8' and 10' ceilings. The boiler I use is a modulating boiler only capable of 110,000 BTU at max. That is still oversized and also heats all my hot water. I am thinking about adding a solar loop or possibly an outdoor woodburner. The delivered cost of gas here per MCU is projected at $18.00 or more this winter. I have enough sun and lots of trees to burn!

Sorry, I do not mean to "hijack" this post. I am just tryiing to say what well done insulation can do to really help you live comfortably and keep cost low.

Peter

[Chuck K.]

Originally Posted by jdmar

I think this is really dis-information by different companies. The old formaldahyde foam from the 70s did break down a bit but still if you did not disturb it it remained full in the cavities. But touch/disturb it now and it crumbles very easily.

One real advantage to the closed cell urethane foam is that it sticks tenaciously and is strong. In larger comercial structures the closed cell urethanes are actually included in calculated loads and forces. It acts to stiffen a structure considerably.
I have noticed that almost all the foam companies spend a lot of time saying why their foam keeps Gods house warm and all the others are junk...sad to see.

Peter

This is the main reason behind using foam especially here on the Texas Gulf Coast.. The addition strength it provides justifies the cost IMHO..

Chuck.